From the Kent and Sussex Courier, 7 November, 1873.

BEARSTED. PETTY SESSIONS.

At the Petty Sessions on Monday last the following business was transacted: Mr. G. Brindley Acworth, of Rochester, made an application for a license to Joseph Brittenden, to sell beer at the "Lads of the Village" at Stockbury.

It appeared that the license was granted to the house seven years ago. The tenant then was a person named Rayfield. Some short time since Rayfield became the tenant of the "Harrow" and refused to give up possession of the "Lads of the Village" and also neglected to obtain the renewal of the license of the latter house at the last licensing session. The license had, therefore, lapsed. The present application was made under the 14th sec. of 9th Geo. IV., chap. 61. Mr. Acworth thought it a most unfair and un-English attempt to supersede the jurisdiction of the Bench who had renewed the license for the last seven years. A memorial in support of the application was handed in. Mr. Goodwin opposed the application on the part of the churchwardens and overseers of the parish of Stockbury, and he did so on the ground that there were sufficient licensed houses already in the village. He pointed out that previous to the passing of the New Licensing Act the Bench had no jurisdiction to refuse a person a license provided he was sufficiently rated. There were already two licensed houses in Stockbury, and therefore he maintained that there was no public necessity for reopening the "Lads of the Village."

Mr. Goodwin, in conclusion, put in a memorial from the principal inhabitants of the parish, asking the Bench to refuse a license to the house in question. The Bench declined to grant the license.